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[Funk Thompson]

As anyone who actually reads my posts probably knows, I'm a big fan of Madahoochi.  I wouldn't say I'm a "street teamer" since I detest handing out fliers, but I do my best to promote them here there and everywhere.

A common question that comes up is "What type of music are they?"

I've never had a good answer for that.  So maybe some of you fine audiophiles can help me.

I have a pretty decent selection of their songs on my YouTube channel, linked in my sig, and have posted a few links here to a few specific songs. 

If anyone has a few moments and would like to help me out, would you take a listen to a few songs and tell me how you would "label" them? 

[Funk Thompson]

For the benefit of everyone else who reads this post. I found their official website here. They have a Myspace here.

Both of the above describe them as a 'Jam Band' and 'Funk'. Google finds them with the keywords 'Funk', 'Jam Band', 'Phish', 'Dave Matthews Band'. That sounds about right.

Right, but the stuff on their Myspace page is older, they have a ton of newer material, and you say "Jam Band" and people react like you just introduced them to a leper.

I'd really like an honest critique, and really hate seeing them dismissed as just another Phish knock off, which I sincerely believe they are not (I like Phish, but think Madahoochi is waaaaay more original and engaging, though not necessarily "better.") 

[Funk Thompson]

I was just providing those links for the benefit of others who might read the thread.

Someone else who is more into this type of music could probably help you out more.

Heh yeah but you can't say I'm not justified in thinking the DMB comparison might be seen / used as an insult around here

Seriously, the stuff you want to check out, for any real idea of their current sound, is the YouTube vids I have.  It is the only recorded material available on the web for free that has more of their recent work.  The last archive.org stuff is from early '07.  I'm sure you can find them on Last.FM, or Pandora, or a few other places, but I think they live experience is better than their albums - even the live album they put out most recently.  They are pretty much still a garage band, their last two albums sound fairly professional but just don't compare to what you get when you actually go and see them.

And I'll readily admit this is a bit of a plug, but it is also just another random forum post to occupy my time and mind and just chat with folks about stuff that interests me.

[Jackie Blue]

People always ask me what type of music Spiritualized are and I totally blank out and, if I'm sober and not feeling witty, end up vaguely throwing around things like "gospel", "rock", "psychedelic", "every song is about heroin or god or love", etc.

NB: I'm speaking of people who don't really know any music other than what's ever been on the radio at some point.

[parm]

People always ask me what type of music Spiritualized are and I totally blank out and, if I'm sober and not feeling witty, end up vaguely throwing around things like "gospel", "rock", "psychedelic", "every song is about heroin or god or love", etc.

NB: I'm speaking of people who don't really know any music other than what's ever been on the radio at some point.

"You know that swelling feeling you get inside whenever you feel a really strong emotion? That churning, overwhelming, extrasensory overload where you don't know whether to laugh and smile and throw your arms in the air and embrace the universe, or break down on the floor and bawl your lungs out until your cheeks sting with tears? Well, Spiritualised sound like that. With a string section."

[Funk Thompson]

Heh, Zero, we have a theme going with our tag lines under our avatars.

Yeah, when people ask me I usually just say "High Energy Rock and Roll with a lot of Funk influence" but I'm always interested in what others have to say. 

Or, if I'm wearing it, I just point to the picture on my shirt and say "This Kind."  The shirt is viewable here (yes, that is my sorry ass) and the picture is a Shark, High-Fiving a Gorilla, in front of an Explosion.  From www.drmcninja.com.  It says "Nice" beneath the picture.  I've gotten some great reactions from this tactic

And I really have grown to despise the term "jam band" because of the instant write-off most people react to the term with.

[benji]

From what I've heard, I think anyone who doesn't like Jam Bands probably won't like this band anyway. But I see your point about there being a stigma.

[Funk Thompson]

They are self-described as a 'Jam Band'. That is definitely a ridiculous term. Most labels for music are.

However, this band sounds exactly like every other 'Jam Band' I have ever heard so I believe the band are excused of using this term as shorthand.

See, I don't get that, because they don't sound like every other jam band to me.  I use rock band more often than jam band to describe them.

Their older stuff, sure, they definitely had the 'jam band' sound 3 years ago and back.  Now, again, I don't know how to describe them but I see Moe and UM and Widespread Panic and Dave Mathews...  and they really don't sound like any of that.  I just can't wrap my head around how some people say they sound like "every other jam band" when, really, any two songs they do generally sound nothing alike.

Hell, Clutch's songs sound more similar to each other than some of Madahoochi's songs.  Johnny Walker and Consequence are worlds apart, other than a few definite Rockwoodisms in the guitar work.

[jimbunny]

After a quick listen, perhaps Southern Rock?

Really, though, if your aim is to describe them to people, you're going to be better off using the commonly accepted terminology; however much you hate it, start with "jam band" or "like Phish" and then add a "but..." And Jam Band doesn't necessarily have to describe a particular sound, only that the band spends a considerable amount of time jamming, and is probably better live than recorded.

[Zingoleb]

You're like the Grateful Dead...you got us into yet another pointless jam.